Phoenix launch Youth Academy

Announcing Phoenix Cricket Club’s innovative New Youth Academy for 2013. This New Youth Academy will provide specialist coaching and mentoring to some of the Club’s most talented young cricketers over July & August.

This specialist programme will be spearheaded, in conjunction with Head Coach Matt Lunson, by Stephen Moreton from Cricket Ireland, a Level 3 coach, and the current U15 Boys International coach. Stephen also plays at the highest level, and is currently a member of the Leinster Lightning’s panel. Stephen and Matt will design and execute the Academy for the Senior and Junior Groups respectively.

On his appointment as specialist coach Stephen comments, “I am delighted to be working on this exciting project with Phoenix and Matt Lunson, I am sure it will be a great success.”

The Youth Academy is being separately funded by long term member Mr. Stan Mitchell. Stan is a former Irish International Cricketer and a past President of the Irish Cricket Union (now Cricket Ireland) and a past President of Phoenix Cricket Club; he has the ambition to see Phoenix continue to be a strong and competitive club into the future. It is Stan’s hope the Academy will play a crucial role in nurturing and supporting the best young talent at Phoenix. This will prepare them, not just for competitive senior cricket at Phoenix, but also cricket at the highest level they can achieve. On behalf of the Club, in particular its young cricketers, we sincerely appreciate the vital contribution Stan has made to their development.

It is important to highlight that the Academy compliments the Club’s overall Coaching ethos, “to provide coaching to the highest standards for every skill level, from the young beginner through to those who can achieve representative honours for Leinster and/or Ireland.” We at Phoenix already have one of the best structured youth coaching programmes in Leinster, the Academy simply adds to this.

Join me in congratulating those talented young cricketers who have been invited to attend our first Academy for 2013. The selection criteria are objective and the details are displayed separately (please review).

Senior Academy

Representation

Junior Academy

Representation

Tom Anders

Ireland/Leinster

Evan Chester

Leinster

Eoin Cleere

Leinster

James McDonough

Leinster panel

Adam Chester

Leinster

Rory Keenan

Leinster Nominate

Rory Anders

Ireland/Leinster

Louis McDonough

Leinster Panel

Marc Gibson-Mckenna

Ireland/Leinster

James Maginnis

Leinster Panel

Simarjit Singh

Ireland/Leinster

Stephen Black

Leinster Panel

Ben White

Ireland/Leinster

Abdullah Tariq

Leinster Nominate

Ian Anders

Ireland/Leinster

Liam Keating

Leinster Panel

Orla Martin*

Leinster

Theo Dempsey*

Leinster Nominate

*Not available: Injury/Vacations

It is the Club’s intention to run the Academy over the next few years, in season and out of season. It is hoped it will encourage all young cricketers at Phoenix to aspire to play to their best, and keep developing their game. It is for all ages from U11 to U17, both boys & girls.

Who wants to join the 2014 Academy? – Start now! Practice hard!

Phoenix offers a fantastic location, great facilities, a first rate coaching staff, including volunteer coaches and managers. It is a club ideally placed to support those young people who aspire to enjoy their cricket to the full by fulfilling their potential within the game. The Academy is another step in improving the quality of what Phoenix Cricket Club offers talented young cricketers in Leinster.